Sulamani Crosses Pond for Arlington Million

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said Saturday's Arlington Million (gr. IT) at Arlington Park is a stepping stone toward the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships for European invader Sulamani.

"The horse is doing extremely well," Crisford said Tuesday during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference. "He was lightly raced during the first part of the year and now we are ready to go forward and ready for the Breeders' Cup."

The 4-year-old Irish-bred son of Hernando was privately purchased by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation from the Niarchos family weeks after his second-place finish in the Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) last year.

"He was very impressive in the French Derby and then we beat him in the Arc, and he came up for sale," Crisford said. "We look for older horses that can fit into our international stable. Sulamni has raced in England, France, Dubai, and now he is coming to America."

The Million will be his first start since finishing second in the July 26 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot, where he finished second behind Alamshar. He has a win in Dubai and a fifth-place finish in France this year.

Crisford said jockey David Flores would have the mount Saturday aboard Sulamni.

"We were always keen to use David Flores in the Million. He is an important part of our team and sometimes in American races it helps to have an American jockey aboard," he said.

Sulamni will face a strong field of both European and American horses in the 1 1/4-mile Million. Also expected to start are Kaieteur, Paolini, Olden Times, and three additional European shippers along with U.S.-based Perfect Drift and Storming Home.